| Author | Message | ||
| hendixclarke
Senior Member Username: hendixclarke Post Number: 426 Registered: 6-2007 |
Hey guys, do you think anyone cares (other musicians in particular) care what bass is used for an electric bass compilation? In other words, how much of a difference does it really make for others "almost insisting an alembic sound..." or is it just you, requiring the sound? I ask this question, because most of us, have multiple bass brands, and I wonder if people (other than you) notice the differences to the point of a demand. Please share your thoughts... | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 1351 Registered: 6-2002 |
An interesting question, Personally I use Alembic because that is the sound I prefer on bass. No-one has ever asked me to bring a different bass on a gig or specifically asked me to bring my Alembic. ( Well I don't have a non alembic bass anymore so they can't). I think that as long as whatever bass you use is able to get the sound that suits the music, it doesn't really matter what bass it is. Some musicians tell me they hear the difference in the sound of my bass so that is a cool plus. I haven't done any recording for anyone with my basses so can't comment on that. I look forward to the responses to this. Jazzyvee | ||
| malthumb
Senior Member Username: malthumb Post Number: 450 Registered: 5-2002 |
In various bands and churches that I've played in other musicians have expressed a preference for one of my basses or another. If it's based on appearance, they usually state a preference for my Marchlewski or the Alembic Series II 5 ("man those LEDs are cool!"). If it's the way the bass sounds, it's almost always the Series II EXCEPT for one gig where a singer really likes a fretless sound, so she prefers my Roscoe. So they are not specifically asking for "an Alembic sound" but they are asking for what they perceive to be my best sound. Peace, James | ||
| hendixclarke
Senior Member Username: hendixclarke Post Number: 427 Registered: 6-2007 |
You guys make great points. As for me, listening to great works from other bassist, I often wonder how their bass sound "would sound like" if they used different basses. Before I dig myself into this rat-hole, let me just say, this topic is a very complicated discussion, that is the point. We gain, from pain. I will read all comments on this thread because it is an extremely good read for others, as well as myself. Ok, here it goes... One person in particular (my drummer), always prefer an Alembic sound to play off because it mix well with his drum tones. I am not sure I understood everything he explained, but Alembic does have an almost "non-electric" amplified acoustic sound. Then when it comes to jamming a simple pattern (funky-stuff) with lots of slap, and pop, the Alembic sound to him lacks impact... The Marcus Miller Fender sound is expressed. Alembics sound definitions, are almost too smooth for the edgy sound he demands to deploy. Another example: Sometimes I wonder what would Mark Adams of "Slave" bass sound (would sound like...) if he played Alembic on "Just A Touch of Love", "Slide","Sizzlin' Hot" I wonder if it would have the same impact and punch? And if that's not enough, I'd never heard anyone make a bass growl better than Mark (who plays a Fender). It's all his baby... Copying is a form of flattery, and I must admit, I tried very hard to engineer my Alembic to growl like the Fender Mark plays, and failed miserably. I would love to read more... | ||
| mike1762
Advanced Member Username: mike1762 Post Number: 259 Registered: 1-2008 |
When I first started hanging out here, I read claims that you could make an Alembic sound like any other bass. I spent an enormous amount of time and energy trying to get one of mine to sound like a Music Man Stingray (since my SR was sitting right there, I'm not sure why I didn't just grab it!!!). While my Alembics are (by far) the most versatile of my stable, they are confined by the woods used, construction technique, and electronics. You will never get an Alembic (neck-through construction, mahogany body, and single-coil PUPs) to sound like a Music Man Stingray (bolt-on neck, ash body, and HB PUP). I've pretty well stopped trying to use my Alembics for slap/pop (ironic since Stanley helped make them famous with that style), but the SR is much more suited for MY technique/tone when it comes to that. If you haven't noticed, I'm a HUGE Stingray fan. But I'm the first to admit that it is the proverbial "one trick pony". It's Alembic's palette of usable tones that continues to amaze me. A slight turn of the frequency filter and you've got a new bass in your hands!!! | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 1564 Registered: 12-2002 |
well lots of band leaders are sold on that traditional fender sound and prefer their bassplayer to put that alembic away,.....when victor wootten played his alembic for "kachief" (a recording artist in the 80's)well he told victor he didnt want that alembic sound so he bought victor the fodera bass and that was the beginning of victors career / endorsement for that bass, the album/recording produced several hits and victors first professional gig /tour at age 16!..........i also played with 70's recording artists "Bloodstone" and pretty much lost the gig because they wanted me to use my fender bass and every time we hit the stage my alembic was in my hand & they didnt like that........so i said fuckem!  | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 2124 Registered: 2-2006 |
I wonder how many people, including ourselves, could really tell an Alembic in EVERY situation. I do understand there are tones that only an Alembic can get. But I do think there are guys that play Alembic that don’t have the traditional Alembic sound. Tiran Porter and Skylark both come to mind here. I personally don’t think either one had a traditional Alembic sound. They had…..well…the Doobie sound (and no Bill I don’t mean a seed popping)… Cliff Burton is another that I really don’t think had the traditional Alembic sound. Of course he did use some effects. I also wonder how often people associate the Alembic sound with the Stanley sound. Mark King still sounds the same, to me anyway, on his Status or Alembic basses. I think Mark is an awesome player and love to hear him but his sound is a little thin for my taste buds, when I’m playing that is. I had an experience right after I got my first S-2 where I was jamming with some friends, (I think Mike, groovelines, was there too) and a guitarist I’ve known for years stated that it doesn’t matter what I play he knows it me on the bass from my sound. He’d never heard me on an Alembic before he was used to hearing my Kubicki or Music Man Sabre (which is a fretless by the way). I did have trouble slapping on my Alembics when I first got them but after some slight tweaking of my right hand technique I have no problem, albeit better on the 4 string than the 5. Which is odd because I had no problem at all on my Warwick 5 and 6 string basses. I attribute that to the fact that Alembic reproduces everything SO much better than other instruments. OO | ||
| hendixclarke
Senior Member Username: hendixclarke Post Number: 429 Registered: 6-2007 |
Good point Olie -- it is very hard to tell the differences of an Alembic sound in every situation. However, for me it takes one slap/pop and I know immediately, if it's an Alembic or not. Is this the case from you guy when it comes to slap/popping? | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 416 Registered: 10-2006 |
Actually, Hal, slapped basses all sound pretty much the same to me; it's with a clean picked or finger-style player the Alembic sound really shines for me. Peter | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 417 Registered: 10-2006 |
Actually, Hal, slapped basses all sound pretty much the same to me; it's with a clean pick or finger-style player the Alembic sound really shines for me. Peter | ||
| hendixclarke
Senior Member Username: hendixclarke Post Number: 430 Registered: 6-2007 |
I was listening to Prince's song "Pop Life" back in the 90's the bass sounded unmistakably like an Alembic bass. I guessed correctly (phew)... But, then again if the bass pattern is complicated, and long enough, I could in most cases guess right again... A very good friend of my during the 80's turned me to listening to a band called: The Dixie Dregs. After hearing a few cuts, I could had sworn the bassist was playing an Alembic. After a few years later, I managed to find an Album at a used record store, and there it was... a guy name Andy West, pictures with a phat-ass Alembic Series I. I was right... Man, after all them years, it felt very good recognizing the sound. That was a great awakening indeed. | ||
| mike1762
Advanced Member Username: mike1762 Post Number: 260 Registered: 1-2008 |
The Dregs!!! I haven't thought about those guys in a long time. I usually don't care for Jazz Fusion, but they had it going on!!! | ||
| hendixclarke
Senior Member Username: hendixclarke Post Number: 431 Registered: 6-2007 |
Daaammm that's a bad-ass Aqua Marine Alembic Mike. All your basses are "eye-candy". | ||
| mike1762
Advanced Member Username: mike1762 Post Number: 262 Registered: 1-2008 |
Thanks Hal... I love playing that bass. The Spoiler is the really "fancy" one of the group. It has a Mahagony body, Maple laminate, and a Bocate top. | ||
| hendixclarke
Senior Member Username: hendixclarke Post Number: 432 Registered: 6-2007 |
Keavin that's an interesting case (about Victor Wooten), this says: people other than the players, knows the Alembic sound enough to require it, or not. I am not sure if it was a good move for Victor to follow Kachief's advice, or not but I would had loved to see him play an Alembic. Man, Victor is my hero, he's a walking in the shadows of legends to claim his own sound. I bet he could engineer sounds on an Alembic that would have even Stanley Clarke take notice... (But that would be a very hard hill to climb)  Thanks Keavin for your positive in sight. I always enjoy reading your comments. | ||
| ajdover
Senior Member Username: ajdover Post Number: 692 Registered: 11-2003 |
I have a bunch of basses in my stable, and I think the biggest difference between an Alembic and some other marques are: 1. Bright, clear tone. 2. Versatility. 3. Adjustability (for playing ease). 4. Quietness. 5. Build Quality (second to none in my experience). Can I pick out an Alembic from most basses? Most of the time, yes. Can I also pick out a P-Bass or a bass like a P-Bass? Yep. As far as whether to use an Alembic or not, well, it depends on the gig. I've used Alembics for country, rock, blues, etc. and it's always fit the bill. I couldn't use, say, my Rick 4001s for blues - for me (and most likely the band) it just wouldn't work. However, I've used my Fenders, Lakland, Pedulla, etc. for other gigs and they work great as well. I play Alembic because of this - they are simply the finest bass guitars on the planet, for me anyway. I love my Lakland, my '73 Jazz, my Sadowsky Vintage 4, my Pedulla MVP, but there's just something about an Alembic that just moves me. Can others tell the difference when I'm playing an Alembic? Absolutely. I've had more than one front of the house engineer tell me that he'd never encountered such a pure, quiet, and clean bass tone. One told me it was the easiest bass to mix he'd ever encountered in 20 years as a sound guy. Alan | ||
| hendixclarke
Senior Member Username: hendixclarke Post Number: 433 Registered: 6-2007 |
Yes the Dregs was very interesting because, they applied a Southern Country Groove with Rock Jazz. Man, that was some beautiful music. I wish they'd hadn't broke apart. Man, I never heard anything come close since... I guess it's for the best... | ||
| hendixclarke
Senior Member Username: hendixclarke Post Number: 434 Registered: 6-2007 |
Alan your comments are very insightful (as with everyone who "laid it down...here"). Man, with all the basses you have, I am sure you could point the sound out from miles away -- and you would be right to... How do feel about the sound comparison between a slap/pop of a Music-man/Fender Precision vs an Alembic? Your Alembic is gorgeous man. | ||
| ajdover
Senior Member Username: ajdover Post Number: 693 Registered: 11-2003 |
Hal, Which Alembic is gorgeous? I think they all are, as is yours! For me, a Fender P-Bass is a one trick pony. It's got a great tone (and recorded history backs it up), but it is only one tone. It boils down to the player, his technique, equipment, etc. I have a '79 Musicman Stingray, and it is an incredible instrument for slap/pop. It is also great fingerstyle, but not as "cutting," IMHO as say, a Jazz bass using the bridge pickup with a lot of mids a la Jaco. It is a comfortable and well playing instrument - Leo got it right with that one if you ask me. As to whether it compares with an Alembic - well ... it all boils down to how much "clean" or "bright" you want. The Alembic is incredibly clean and bright - if you make a mistake, everyone will hear it. If you use a Musicman or a Precision, fewer will. They're more "forgiving" in that sense of less than stellar technique. Alembics demand that you have good technique - this is one of the reasons I love them. They make me a better player because I can hear what I'm doing (or not doing) better. If I were doing slap only, I'd probably go with a Musicman. But very few bassists do slap only - we need something more versatile. The Musicman is versatile, but not as versatile as an Alembic IMHO. Same goes for a P-Bass. My two cents, Alan | ||
| hendixclarke
Senior Member Username: hendixclarke Post Number: 435 Registered: 6-2007 |
From your profile, I only see one Alembic. If you have more basses, please show and tell... Yeah, I thought you might feel as most. Alembic basses are more than "slap-n-pop" basses. There pedigree is not as strong there. This is where my drummer was right as well. I must admit, the Musicman is a killer "slap-n-pop". During the Disco days, Musicman basses were everywhere. Using your terms: "They are a great horse to ride" for the right job. | ||
| ajdover
Senior Member Username: ajdover Post Number: 694 Registered: 11-2003 |
Hal, I don't know what profile you're seeing, but I list all of my stuff there. If you can't see it, email me and I'll send you some pics. Alan | ||
| hendixclarke
Senior Member Username: hendixclarke Post Number: 436 Registered: 6-2007 |
http://alembic.com/cgi-bin/alembic-club/board-profile.cgi?action=view_profile&profile=ajdover-users Is this you? | ||
| hendixclarke
Senior Member Username: hendixclarke Post Number: 437 Registered: 6-2007 |
I see one bass from the link... Looks like a John Entwistle Alembic design. | ||
| ajdover
Senior Member Username: ajdover Post Number: 695 Registered: 11-2003 |
If you read the "other gear" link, you'll see that I own a bunch of stuff, to include Alembics. Alan | ||
| ajdover
Senior Member Username: ajdover Post Number: 696 Registered: 11-2003 |
For the record, I own: A '92 Alembic Essence An '04 Dragon's Wing An '06 Stanley Clarke Signature Standard An '03 Europa 4 On the way: a custom Series II John Entwistle Replica Exploiter Previously owned: A '91 Essence An '84 Exploiter (my first Alembic) A LE Spyder (O4) Alan | ||
| hendixclarke
Senior Member Username: hendixclarke Post Number: 440 Registered: 6-2007 |
No doubt... you own many basses - cool. I was referencing the picture in your profile which only shows one bass (I believe you are holding in front of a fireplace). If you have pictures of all your other fabulous basses, I would love to see those basses too. | ||
| benson_murrensun
Intermediate Member Username: benson_murrensun Post Number: 114 Registered: 5-2007 |
Sometimes I get the feeling that the choice of string type has as much to do with the sound as the instrument itself. If I had to have only 2 basses to cover every job, it would be an Alembic with roundwound strings and a Precision with flats. |
